Nature of traditional socialism

Inequality is neither natural nor desirable. Socialists therefore believe that the state has a responsibility to reduce inequality and create greater opportunity.

Socialists see society as being fundamentally divided along class lines and that class conflict is the inevitable conseq of capitalism.

Collectivism is a key principle. This suggests that many goals are better achieved collectively rather then individually. These include such fields as education, health care, low cost housing, pensions and collective protection for workers (unions).

Free market capitalism is seen as a system which contains significant faults, notably it places too much power in the hands of employers…